Centrelink Debt Crisis

It’s reassuring to know there’s a strong social safety net if we lose our job or fall on tough times.

But right now, our social security system is in deep crisis.

The Turnbull Government’s automated debt letters are causing enormous pain for thousands and thousands of people across the country, as well as huge stress for staff.

Debt notices are only the beginning – 5000 jobs have been cut from the Department of Human Services (which includes Centrelink) in 5 years. That’s why 1 in 4 phone calls to Centrelink don’t get answered, and why people have to wait hours on the phone and in queues in Centrelink offices, and why people can’t get their problems with debt notices sorted out.

The Turnbull Government’s response to this crisis was to cut another 800 jobs from the Department of Human Services in the 2016 Budget.

This isn’t good enough – Australians deserve a decent social security system, and it’s time for the Turnbull Government to take responsibility: drop the debt program and restore permanent staff to DHS.

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